Speaker to local business leaders: State's comeback isn't complete

Thursday

Jun 5, 2014 at 3:25 PMJun 5, 2014 at 3:25 PM

By Brian.VanOchten@hollandsentinel.com(616) 546-4279

The top business leaders in the Holland area gathered Thursday morning at Haworth headquarters to hear a progress report on how Michigan is faring during the economic comeback.The findings presented by Doug Rothwell, president and CEO of Business Leaders for Michigan, indicated things are looking up, but there’s still much that needs to be done.“We’re still not a top 10 state, but we have many metrics moving in the right direction,” he said.The corporate tax climate in Michigan has improved from second worst in the U.S. to ninth best under the leadership of Gov. Rick Snyder, Rothwell told an audience that included Haworth Inc. Chairman Emeritus Dick Haworth and Holland Mayor Kurt Dykstra.Yet, Michigan still ranks no better than 40th in the total cost of doing business.The state ranks eighth in value exports, eighth in research and development, 13th in patents awarded and 19th in venture capital, which is up from the 30s under former Gov. Jennifer Granholm.“I can tell you what a difference an election makes,” U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Zeeland, said. “I wish we could take what’s happening in Michigan and apply it in D.C. But we still have a long way to go.”The state of Michigan lacks, however, in terms of college attainment. It ranks 30th among states with an educated workforce and 50th in attracting degreed individuals to live and work here.The result is an overall talent deficit that needs to be corrected sooner rather than later, Rothwell said.“Yes, things are better,” he said, noting that Michigan has reclaimed 250,000 of the 1 million jobs lost during the recession. “But they’re not good enough.”He argued the personal property tax needs to be abolished Aug. 5 by voters.“If we want to create more jobs in Michigan, we have to get rid of this tax,” Rothwell said.He also urged the state legislature to rethink its funding for some programs. He decried that Michigan spends just $4,600 to help send a kid to college, but spends $46,000 to house a single prison inmate. He said additional funding for higher education is badly needed.He pointed to the Holland area as a proud example for other Michigan communities to follow.It’s a sentiment that was echoed Thursday by local business leaders.“So much of what he’s asking people to do, we’re already doing here,” West Coast Chamber of Commerce President Jane Clark said. “We’re really a role model (for the rest of the state).”Haworth agreed.“I want to feel comfortable and proud to leave this economy to my grandchildren,” he said. “We are engaged. We want to be part of the solution.We can make a lot of difference.”— Follow this reporter on Twitter @BizHolland.